Good point, TB, and yes, I very much enjoy the additional info.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Western Front
British troops posing in a wrecked German light railway engine at Combles: http://imgur.com/Qf1O6N8* © IWM (Q 5785)
At the Somme, British troops win 1000 yards of trenches near Grandcourt “without opposition.”

Eastern Front
The Sereth river (south-east of Focsani) being frozen, Austro-Hungarian “attacks lightly”, but is driven back. Again, probably nothing more than planned probe-and-withdraw raids.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Mesopotamia: Near Kut, the Turks evacuate the south bank of the Tigris east of the Hai-Tigris junction; also forward positions west of the Hai.
Second phase of the Battle of Kut begins.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Atlantic: S.S. California, Anchor Line, sunk by submarine without warning.* 43 killed and missing. [ed note: NOT the same ship, the SS Californian, that played such a large non-role in the Titanic disaster. The SS Californian had already been sunk, by U-35 in the Mediterranean, on 9 November, 1915]

Political, etc.
Germany: German Foreign Secretary Zimmermann states Germany “regrets” the U.S. decision to cut off diplomatic ties.
Germany will not allow James W. Gerard, U.S. Ambassador to Germany, to leave until they are satisfied with the German ambassador’s treatment.
France: Report presented to the French Senate charges that munition manufacturers have made millions in excess profits on government contracts.
United Kingdom: (listed for yesterday) The decoded Zimmermann Telegram is passed on to the British Foreign Office. Discussion begins on how to tell the U.S.
New Air Board formed with Lord Cowdray as chairman.
Mr. Neville Chamberlain announces his scheme for National Service.
United States: Members of the New York militia guarding a bridge against German sabotage: http://imgur.com/EJLcn66
Henry Ford states his factories can make 1000 small submarines a day if the U.S. were to enter the war.
(listed for yesterday): U.S. Senate overrides Wilson’s veto and passes the Immigration Act of 1917, which restricts immigration, specifically from much of Asia.
Nearly 1000 Germans, Austro-Hungarians, Bulgarians, and Ottoman citizens living in New York City apply for naturalization.
Switzerland: Switzerland states it will continue to maintain relations with Germany in order to preserve its neutrality.
Mexico: (listed for yesterday) Mexico’s Constitutional Congress officially ratifies its new Constitution: https://es.wikisource.org/wiki/Cons...Mexicanos_(1917)

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

A DAY! For some reason I have doubts about that ... 1-5 maybe, but I really doubt 1,000!

Naval and Overseas Operations
Since the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare last week, Germany has sunk at least 59 ships, with 22 belonging to neutral nations.

Political, etc.
Germany: All US citizens held in protective custody (the Allied Powers insisted on referring to them “as government hostages”) (until February 17).
Russia: 125,000 people involved in Moscow and Petrograd political strikes (20 leaders arrested February 10-11).
United Kingdom: King opens Parliament. Petrol licence issues suspended, private motoring virtually eliminated (331,897 licences in 1916).
United States: Several neutral States refuse Mr. Wilson's invitation to act in conjunction with the U.S.
South America: Governments of Brazil and Argentina threaten to sever relations if Germany attacks their shipping.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

It's a good thing he didn't actually try. The over-inflated claims of millions of aircraft turned out by US industry were already bad enough (partly because such absurd claims were widely accepted).

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

A classic example of people getting a little carried away. Perhaps the little submarines were better known as torpedos.

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Calm, quiet, smooth, devastating

Now that's a possibility ... and maybe even do-able although that almost sounds a bit ambitious.

Western Front
Georges Guynemer shares shooting down of Freiburg-based Gotha bomber near Bouconville; this 32nd victim goes on display in Paris.
Sailly-Saillisel ridge (Hill 153, Somme) taken by the British with 78 prisoners.
From Grandcourt British make minor advances on both banks of the Ancre.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Egypt: (also reported for yesterday) British operations against the Senussi come to an and (see 5th, and November 23rd, 1915).

Naval and Overseas Operations
Adriatic: Grand Admiral Baron Anton von Haus, C-in-C Austro-Hungarian Fleet dies of lung disease aboard flagship Viribus Unitis aged 65 http://imgur.com/SA9UPGg ; Emperor Charles attends funeral. Senior Vice-Admiral Njegovan (1st Squadron) succeeds, also made Admiralty Chief (April 30).
North Sea: Destroyer HMS Thrasher sinks UC-39 with depth charges off Flamborough Head.
Channel: Dover Strait minefield completed by Royal Navy minelayers, but has to be swept and relaid (June-July). HM Destroyer Gurkha mined and sunk. UC-46 rammed and sunk by destroyer Liberty southeast of Goodwin Sands.
Britain: War Cabinet decide only to continue with building battlecruiser Hood; 3 sister ships suspended on march 9 as Germans known to have stopped work on capital ships.

Political, etc.
Germany: Neutral sources (falsely) report that Mr. Gerard is being held hostage in Berlin and not allowed to communicate with U.S.A.
France: French Chamber of Deputies authorizes the Finance Minister to lend $300 million to Allied and friendly countries.
To save fuel, Paris theaters will be closed four days a week and streetcars and subways will cease operations by 10 pm.
United Kingdom: Zimmermann telegram made public from the Royal Navy Room 40 decrypt: ‘… you are desired … to broach … an alliance to the President [Carranza of Mexico] … The President might, even now… sound Japan’.
United States: Wilson proposes to Britain that Allies declare against Austro-Hungary’s total break up but Lloyd George declines on February 11.
President Wilson makes assurances that foreign property and other assets will not be taken even if the U.S. goes to war.
Sweden: Sweden also rejects President Wilson’s call to break off relations with Germany, stating they will continue to maintain neutrality.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Western Front
Somme: Operation Alberich: Germans begin demolitions with programmed removal of material and civilians between Siegfried [Hindenburg] Line and actual front line at the Somme.
East of Sailly-Saillisel Germans counter-attack new British positions, but are repulsed.
Meuse: French repulse German attacks.

Southern Front
Italy: Austrians claim 1,000 PoWs in attack east of Gorizia. but Italians regain trenches taking 100 PoWs on February 9. Italian Intelligence reports new Austrian artillery and troops on Asiago and in Upper Adige.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Egypt: Report on Senussi operations issued.
Mesopotamia: British 13th and 14th Divisions storm liquorice factory (until February 10). [ed note: I knew there were shortages, and rationing had to be implemented among all the belligerents, but I had no idea things were that bad.]

Political, etc.
Germany: German Government admit having prevented Mr. Gerard communicating with U.S.A., “stating falsely” that Count Bernstorff has not been allowed communication with Germany. Mr. Gerard receives his passports.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.